2026 · UX Design
EligibleMe
A platform that simplifies how students, entrepreneurs, and NGOs discover and apply for government grants, scholarships, and financial aid.
Role
UX Designer
Tools
Figma · FigJam
Scope
0 → 1 Platform
Year
2026
Click through the product.
↗Interactive. Click through the product above.
Overview & The Problem
Finding funds shouldn't be harder than the work itself.
EligibleMe is a digital platform designed to simplify how students, entrepreneurs, and NGOs discover and apply for government grants, scholarships, and financial aid. The project focused on transforming a fragmented, confusing ecosystem into a seamless, intuitive experience.
Millions of students and entrepreneurs miss out on scholarships, grants, and subsidies simply because information is scattered, difficult to understand, and hard to track.
Applicants struggle with eligibility confusion, repetitive documentation, and complex application portals.
There's a clear need for a simple, unified platform that makes discovering and applying for financial support easy and transparent.
Research & Insights
The problem isn't a lack of funding — it's a lack of accessibility.
I conducted primary research with 50+ participants and backed it with secondary data — revealing systematic drop-offs, low awareness, and a heavy reliance on informal sources.
Competitor Analysis
Opportunity Identified: A trustworthy, simple, and centralized platform providing exceptional UX.
User Personas
Behind every unclaimed grant is a real person who got defeated by the fine print. Three distinct user groups, one unified platform.
Aditi Sharma
Aditi is a bright student from a middle-class family. She spends hours on Instagram and YouTube but feels "dumb" when she looks at official government portals. She often finds out about scholarships after the deadline has passed because she relies on word-of-mouth from friends.
“Represents the 20% of users who are students, struggling with awareness.”
Goals
- Fund Education — Cover tuition fees so she doesn't burden her parents.
- Clarity — Know exactly what she's eligible for without reading 10 pages of PDFs.
- Mobile-First — Apply from her phone without needing a cyber cafe.
Friction
- The "Jargon" Wall — Official terms like "Domicile" and "Gazetted Officer" are intimidating.
- Awareness Gap — "I didn't know this scholarship existed until my friend got it."
- Repetitive Data — Hates typing her name and marks over again for every different scheme.
Kuttappan
Kuttappan runs a small workshop. He knows government subsidies exist for upgrading machinery, but assumes the process is "fixed" or just for big companies. He is extremely busy and views paperwork as a "lost day" of work. He often relies on expensive agents who promise results but deliver little.
“Represents the 25% of users who are MSMEs, struggling with time and complexity.”
Goals
- Capital for Growth — Low-interest loans or subsidies to buy new machines.
- Time Efficiency — Apply in minutes, not days.
- Status Tracking — Know if his application is stuck without visiting a government office.
Friction
- Govt. Officer Hurdle — Hates running around for physical signatures & documents.
- Document Chaos — Loses track of income certificates and GST papers.
- "If the app can just tell me 'Upload this photo' and be done, I'll use it."
Meera Joseph
Meera helps 50+ rural students apply for financial aid every year. She is the human bridge for those with low digital literacy. She manages everything on a messy Excel sheet and a physical notebook, overwhelmed by tracking 50 different deadlines for 50 different applicants.
“Represents the 29% of users who are NGO/Social Workers, acting as a proxy for others.”
Goals
- Bulk Management — Manage multiple student profiles from a single account.
- Accuracy — Ensure students don't get rejected due to silly mistakes.
- Offline Access — Save information when visiting villages with poor internet.
Friction
- Siloed Portals — Logs into 5 different websites for 5 different schemes.
- No Dashboard — "I have to call the office just to check the status."
- "I spend all my time filing forms. I need a tool that organises this mess for me."
Information Architecture
Replacing jargon with structured clarity.
EligibleMe positions itself as a "Funding Operating System" that centralizes opportunities and simplifies application workflows. The structure relies on four core sections driving users through a clear funnel.
Core Sections: Home · Search · Feed · Profile
User Flow: Discover → Check Eligibility → Apply → Track
Categories: Scholarships · Grants · Loans · Subsidies · Funding
Branding & Design System
Friendly, non-intimidating visuals.
The brand identity was built around simplicity and reassurance. The rising sun logo symbolizes opportunity, while the Warm Orange primary color conveys trust. The overall strategy: Reduce cognitive load and replace jargon with clarity.
"Relax. We read the PDF so you don't have to."
Prototype & UI
Stop leaving money on the table.
The final product features a clean mobile-first interface, personalized dashboards, simplified eligibility checklists, and crystal clear application tracking.
Conclusion
EligibleMe transforms a broken ecosystem into an accessible enabler of opportunity, empowering users and bridging the massive gap between available help and actual beneficiaries.
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